Governor directs Adjutant General Berry to arm full-time military personnel, fly flag half-staffLITTLE ROCK – In the wake of the shootings Thursday at the Navy and Marine reserve center in Chattanooga, Tenn., Governor Asa Hutchinson has authorized Arkansas National Guard Adjutant General Mark Berry to arm full-time military personnel. In addition, the Governor has issued a proclamation ordering the state flag of Arkansas to be flown at half-staff from sunrise to sunset on Monday, July 20, 2015 as a mark of respect and as an expression of...

Sheriff’s deputy hurt while on patrolDANVILLE — Sheriff Bill Gilkey announced the arrest Sunday of a Dardanelle man on charges stemming from an incident in which a deputy was allegedly injured. Richard Allen Via, 40, was taken into custody early Sunday after a deputy sheriff on routine patrol allegedly discovered Via standing in a traffic lane of State Highway 7 outside of Dardanelle, according to Chief Deputy John Foster. The deputy reported Via refused to comply with commands t...

A&P commissioners give grant to Equestrian ZoneThe Russellville Advertising and Promotion Commission approved a $1,999 grant for an Equestrian Zone bike poker run scheduled for Sept. 12 in Pope and Johnson counties. Commissioners also approved a $500 community grant for Summer Sweeney, a country artist who will perform Sept. 19-20 at the Pope County Fair; and a $500 community grant for the Russellville Football Booster Club’s 5K Glo Run on Aug. 6 at Russellville Junior High School. The com...

Firm seeks more info, stalls funds for stateAssociated Press LITTLE ROCK — A telecommunications company wants more information before it submits paperwork that officials say has put a hold on more than $15 million in federal funding for Arkansas schools. CenturyLink officials question whether the state’s procurement process for school broadband upgrades complied with federal rules. Jeff Jones, CenturyLink’s market development manager, said it seeks additional information from the Federa...

Arkansas lawmakers criticize Iran nuclear dealAssociated Press LITTLE ROCK — Arkansas’ all-Republican congressional delegation roundly criticized a nuclear deal announced Tuesday between Iran and world powers, with freshman U.S. Sen. Tom Cotton calling it a “grievous, dangerous mistake.” Cotton, an Army veteran who authored an open letter to Iran in March signed by 46 other senators about the nuclear negotiations, vowed to fight the agreement that would curb Iran’s nuclear program in exch...

Benton County search for man on the run ends in MissouriAssociated Press BENTONVILLE — A four-day search for a 39-year-old man on the run from law enforcement in Benton County has ended in Missouri. Officers had pursued the suspect since Friday evening, when authorities say deputies attempted to serve him a warrant for failure to pay child support and a parole violation. The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette reports the suspect fled from an apartment complex and led police on a chase across a golf course b...

Septic truck driver killed in crash in JacksonvilleAssociated Press JACKSONVILLE — Authorities say a Redfield man was killed when the septic truck he was driving crashed in Jacksonville. Arkansas State Police say 49-year-old Dennis Brasher died as a result of the crash on Monday. A Lonoke man who was riding in the truck was injured and is hospitalized in undisclosed condition. Pulaski County deputies who responded to the crash say Brasher died after being removed from the vehicle. A state poli...

Marriage ruling opens fight within state GOPLITTLE ROCK — A social conservative who once called for banning gay couples from becoming foster parents, Republican Gov. Asa Hutchinson was an unlikely foil for members of his own party outraged at the U.S. Supreme Court decision to strike down same-sex marriage bans nationwide. But the pushback Hutchinson is facing from some conservatives who think the state needs to protect county clerks who don’t want to issue marriage licenses to gay coup...

Community photo: Welding scholarshipsUnited Welding Institute Inc. recently presented Dakota James Caskey from Ashdown School district with a full-paid scholarship to United Welding Institute in the amount of $12,000 as winner of the High School Welding Competition. Dakota is the son of Sonia Caskey of Ashdown and James Caskey of Bradley.

Missing 90-year-old Bay woman found dead in fieldAssociated Press BAY — Craighead County authorities say the body of a 90-year-old Bay woman who disappeared nearly two weeks ago has been found in a cornfield. Sheriff Marty Boyd told reporters a volunteer helping search for Lavinda Counce found the woman’s body Sunday in the field near the small town just southeast of Jonesboro. Boyd said the body is being sent to the state Crime Lab to determine the cause of death, but said evidence indicate...

Several pastors opt out in marrying gay couplesAssociated Press LITTLE ROCK — Several Arkansas pastors are opting out of performing gay marriages since last month’s U.S. Supreme Court ruling that legalized them. Pastor D.R. “Barney” Hickman of the Newton County Cowboy Church told the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette that he doesn’t have anything against people who are gay, but that it conflicts with his religion to marry same-sex couples. He was one of several ministers who told the Boone County ...

Arkansas correctional officer attacked by inmate with rodVARNER, Ark. (AP) — Arkansas prison officials are investigating an inmate who allegedly attacked a female correctional officer at the Varner Supermax prison. Officials say the incident occurred shortly before 8:30 a.m. Monday when the inmate allegedly attacked the officer with a metal rod. Other officers heard her cry out for help and found her on the floor, suffering from what appeared to be two puncture wounds. The officer was treated and re...

Same-sex couples sue state over birth certificatesAssociated Press LITTLE ROCK — Three same-sex couples sued Arkansas health officials Monday for refusing to name both spouses on their children’s birth certificates, arguing the state is violating their constitutional rights after gay marriage was legalized nationwide. The married women said in the lawsuit filed in Pulaski County Circuit Court that the state Health Department would list only the biological mother on the birth certificate, and ...

Parole board approves shorter hearing deadlinesAssociated Press LITTLE ROCK — The Arkansas Parole Board approved several changes to its rules Monday, including shorter deadlines to hold revocation hearings for parole violators and a stronger focus on alternative sentencing programs. The other changes made at a special hearing in Little Rock involved clarifying the board’s rulemaking abilities and that board members can hear revocation cases to ease the burden on the four Arkansas judges wh...

County considers court and fines for vicious animal ownersAfter meeting for a third time, the Pope County Quorum Court’s (PCQC) vicious/uncontrolled animals committee has selected various sections from other county’s ordinances to be considered as amendments to the county’s current ordinance by the full court during its Aug. 11 meeting. County Attorney Jeff Phillips discussed the legalities of certain language that might be implemented. The committee, which consists of Justices of the Peace Phil Hane...

Alleged shooter pleads not guiltyCLARKSVILLE — The man arrested May 15 for the fatal shooting of a Johnson County Sheriff’s reserve deputy has pleaded not guilty in Johnson County Circuit Court. David Gibbons, Fifth Judicial District prosecuting attorney, said Saturday that neither Fred Kauffeld, 51, of Clarksville nor his attorney, William O. “Bill” James Jr. of the James Law Firm in Little Rock, appeared Friday morning inside the Johnson County Courthouse. The plea of not g...

Redesign of ATU education programs beginsDr. Mary Gunter views education as a circle that never ends, and she’s employing that vision to redesign the way Arkansas Tech University prepares teachers for the classroom and beyond. Gunter took office as dean of the Arkansas Tech College of Education on July 1. She adds those responsibilities to her previous duties as dean of the Arkansas Tech Graduate College and professor of educational leadership. A member of the Arkansas Tech faculty s...

Community photo: Arkansas Municipal LeagueThe Arkansas Municipal League at its 81st Convention, held June 24-26 in Little Rock, honored Alderman Bill Eaton with the Adrian L. White Municipal Leadership Award. The award was presented during the Awards and New Officers’ Luncheon by 2014-2015 League President and Little Rock Mayor Mark Stodola. The Adrian White award is given to municipal officials who have served with distinction and dedication to the League’s boards, councils, or commi...

Groups call for Hindu, vegan displays at Arkansas CapitolAssociated Press LITTLE ROCK — The Arkansas Capitol lawn could soon get crowded: Existing statues that honor Confederate soldiers, fallen firefighters and the nine black children who integrated Little Rock Central High School might be joined shortly by tributes for vegans, a monkey-faced deity and a cloven-hooved demon. State legislators this year approved placing a privately funded Ten Commandments display on Capitol grounds, perhaps opening ...

AG: State authority for data breach, security lawsLITTLE ROCK — Arkansas Attorney General Leslie Rutledge Tuesday co-sponsored a bipartisan, multistate letter to the U.S. Congress in an effort to ensure that any future federal data breach notification or data security law provides consumers with the best protection. The letter, signed by 47 attorneys general, emphasizes the importance of maintaining States’ authority to enforce data breach and data security laws, as well as their ability to e...